Northern flicker, cousin
of the wood-peckers:It's such an accidental dandy,
with polka dots, a black cravat,
dusk-blue cap, red ornament--
and a subtly curved, bladed beak.
And when it takes off,
a shock of yellow shows
like the lining of cape.
Each early Spring, one flicker
beak-hammers the metal flashing
on our chimney. I'm back!
Such a lonely, obvious bird,
too guileless to annoy.
It likes to blast a high-pitched
shriek and dine on fat bugs
pincered out of trees and posts.
I've never not been thrilled
to see or hear a Northern flicker.
hans ostrom 2023
